Egg carton



J. L. COYLE Sept. 27, 1932.

EGG CARTON Filed June 21, 1928 Zrzyerzfarr Patented Se t. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES JOSEPH L. COYLE, OF LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGHOR '10 EPHRAIM'.

; TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PATENT OFFICE BANKING,

EGG- CARTOLT Application" filed June 21,

This invention relates to a carton for the reception of eggs and like commodities. More particularly the present improvements are directed toward simplicity and low cost of production. These'ends are attained with out sacrifice in any degree of protection required for contents of the carton,

' An exemplification of my'invention is set Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective showing the 'filler lock provided along the bottom of the carton blank;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the carton blank showing the several walls which are produced by bends therein after being set up in condition for service; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a filler adapted for use in the present car,-

ton.

By the term carton, as used herein, I include both a filler and an enclosure therefor, the latter being in the form of a rectangular blank A which may be scored or otherwise treated to provide certain lines of bend a, b, 0, and a, b, c which define between them a bottom 7, side walls 8, a pair of half covers 9 and flaps 10 depending from the free edges of the latter, all as" indicated best in Fig. 5. This blank may be slitted near its center to provide a tongue 11 adapted to be .upstood as shown in'Fig. 4. Extending vertically for the length of the tongue is a slot 12 dividing the tongue into a pair of tabs or abutments adapted to project into the carton and lie at opposite sides of a cross wall B of the filler to prevent longitudinal movement of the filler relative to the open-ended carton as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. A blank answering to this description may be folded along the bend lines into a compact form such as is shown in Fig. 2, and this is edge of the partition. In assembling the par- 1928. Serial No. 287,089.

of advantage for purposes of shipping or storing. V y The filler which is adapted to be received Within a blank of the kinddescribed may con-. veniently be constructed as per the showing in Figs. 3 and 6. It comprises aplurality of spaced parallel cross walls B each havin a central vertical slot 16 extending inwardly from its upper edge. This slot is preferably ofi'set to provide. an overhanging shoulder 17- above which the slot edges diverge to provide no r a flaring entrance. The slot side opposite the shoulder may be rounded away at 19 to facilitate forced movement past the shoulder of a portion 20 of the body of a central longitudinal partition C which isvertically slotted at 22, a plurality of such slots corresponding to the positions of the several cross walls B being extended inwardly from the bottom tition and cross walls in intersecting relation, as described, the body portion-20 of thepartition is forced past the shoulder 17 of each slot 16. This positioning of the parts is facilitated by the flaring entrance to each slot and by the rounded contour of the slot edge opposite the shoulder in each instance.

The filler may also comprise two other partitions Dexactly alike, which occupy outer positions upon opposite sides of the partition C. These latter partitions also intersect the cross walls B, and for this purpose the latter are providedwith vertical slots 26 extending I inwardly from their upper edges relatively close to the ends of the walls. The entrance to these slots may also be flaring, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The lower end of each slot 26 is laterally enlarged or widened at 27 and so formed as to provide a lower corner 28 which isslightly offset with respect to the slot 26 so as to misalign therewith.

The outer partitions D are provided with a series of aligned slots 29 and 29 extending inwardly from the upper and loweredges thereof and spaced in conformity with the positions of the cross walls. Each pair of slots 29 and 29 is separated by an intervening body portion 30 which is adapted to be received through a slot 26 into the enlarged portion 27 of the lower end thereof so as to rest 10.

against the corner 28. The lateral enlargement 27 is such that the outer partitions may be inclined away from each other in the manner shown in the drawing. When so positioned, the filler is made ready for use within the carton blank A hereinbefore described. Because of this slanting disposition of the outer partitions the filler is prevented from collapsing. These partitions are supported in place either by the edges of the slot en- -s-largement 27 or by the side walls 8 of the carton blank within which the filler is placed. It will be apparent that the present filler provides a cellular structure having, in the form illustrated, two rows of cells which is the arrangement most commonly produced for commercial purposes.

The present filler may be collapsed only when -theouter partitions are brought into parallelism with the center partition. When the parts are so related, there is tendency for the outer partitions to remain in place due to the slight offset of each corner 28 with respect to the slot 26. After the filler is set up and the outside partitions are moved to an an- 7 gular position, a cellular structure is then produced' which is rigid and proof against collapse. The filler is adapted to be rested on the blank bottom 8 with one of its cross walls 0 or partitions set into the slot 12 of the upstanding tongue 11. This definitely centers the filler relative .to the carton blank, and

Y prevents an endwise sliding movement of one within the other. The blank may then be bent around the carton, so that its half covers 9 will each overlie one row of cells. The two flaps 10 are then adapted to be turned in and fitted within the flaring entrances of the several slots 16 where they are frictionally held. This frictional securement of the flaps maybe enhanced by the provision of a shoulder 30 which projects slightly in the'path of the flaps, as indicated best in Fig. 3. i

- From the preceding descriptionit will be 5 apparent that the present carton is advantageous because of the simplicity of its construction, the fewness of its parts, and the facility with which it may be set up or taken down. I desire, in accordance with the terms of the claims following, to be protected in this invention whether or not the embodiment thereof be as illustrated and described, or modified therefrom without sacrifice of the features which impart novelty thereto.

I claim:

1. A carton for eggs and the like in which is comprised a separable collapsible filler having intersecting walls and partitions, interengaging means formed on the walls and partitions adapted to-norm'ally prevent collapse of the filler, and a blank enclosing the filler in the formof a wrapper having two of its opposite edges frictionally joined thereto whereby to retain the wrapper in position around the filler.

2. A carton for eggs and the like in which is comprised a self-supporting filler having slotted cross walls and longltudinal partitions in intersecting relation, and a wrapper blank folded around the filler having two of its opposite edges frictionally fitted in the cross wall slots whereby to retain the wrapper in position around the filler.

3. A carton for eggs and the like in which is comprised a collapsible filler having intersecting walls and partitions adapted to be placed in relative positions such that the filler is prevented from collapsing, and a blank adapted for bending along parallel lines to form an open-ended wrapper in which the filler may be enclosed, the blank having means for releasably engaging the filler to prevent its moving endwise within the wrapper, and when disengaged from the filler being collapsible upon itself along the parallel'bend lines.

4. Packaging means for eggs comprising, in combination, a cellular filler including upright cross-members, a. tubular carton or wrapper adapted to receive the. filler and being open at one end, and means for retaining the filler against relative movementlengthwise of the carton in the direction of said end, comprising a bendable tab on a wall of the carton adapted to be thrust in adjacent a cross-member of the filler, at the side of said member toward the end of the carton, to serve as astop.

5. Packa 'ng means or eggs comprising, in combination, a cellular filler including upright cross-members, a tubular carton or wrapper adapted to receive the filler and be-' ing open at an end, and means for retaining the filler'against relative movement lengthwise the carton in either direction, compris- 105 ing a plurality of tabs formed on a carton wall or walls, one adjacent one face of a cross-member and another adjacent the opposite face of a cross-member, to cooperate. therewith as stops.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and aifixed my seal this 18th day of June, 1928.

JOSEPH L. GOYLE.

DISCLAIMER 1,880,074;J0seph L. Coyle, London, Ontario, Canada. EGG Canrozv. Patent dated September 27, 1932. Disclaimer filed January 12, 1935, by the assignee, Ephraim Banning, trustee-assignee Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 4 and 5 of said patcn t, as follows:

By restricting the term cellular filler to an interconnected separately coustituted structure affording a plurality of separate cells,- each defined by certain walls configured to embrace the contents of the cell.

By restricting the term upright cross members to portions of the filler which afiord'inwardly extending protrusions constituting the transverse components of the individual cell walls.

By restricting the term tab to a portion of the enclosure wall which is struck inwardly into the space adjacent to a cross member and in such relation thereto as to afford a physical abutment or obstruction to the cross member which being an interconnected constituent of the filler affords provision against longitudinal withdrawal of the filler as a Whole. 7

By excluding from the language of said claims any construction in which the means for preventing longitudinal withdrawal of the filler from its enclosure necessarilylincludes a string, band, or other device which is additional or supplemental to those portions of the structure which within themselves combine to provide the cell forming filler and the surrounding carton or Wrapper.

[Ofii-cial Gazette February 5, 1935.] 

